Tendon

T1:1 Definition of scaffold

The scaffold for the rabbit tendon repair model will be defined, prepared, evaluated in cell culture and shipped sterile to UCL. Carriers of self assembled peptides and gel forming hyaluronan will be combined with bioactive ceramics and growth factors.

T1:2 Rabbit tendon trials

Scaffolds will be implanted in an established tendon( partial tenotomy) injury model to test its efficacy and monitor the early cellular and inflammatory  response. Tendons will be harvested  at  3, 7 , 14  and 21 days  for  H&E, immunohistochemistry,TEM and mechanical testing

The partial tenotomy window injury model will be used in which a full thickness window. 0.5mm wide, 5mm long is made in the extensor digitorum longus tendon. Briefly, the dorsum of the hind paw is shaved and a V-shaped incision made. The base of the flap is placed proximally and reflected to expose the  paratendinous tissue. A total of four tendons per hind paw are dissected out using micro scissors. Cell free and cell seeded scaffolds (cells will be prelabelled to allow in vivo tracking of cells) to fit this window will be aligned parallel to the tendon and held in place by a 10/0 Ethilon suture placed in the middle. Control tendons will not receive any scaffolds. The skin flap is sutured with 8/0 Nylon suture and the animals allowed to recover. Animals are sacrificed as per Home Office Regulations.

For statistical analysis a total of 3 animals will be used per time point with 4 tendons per hind paw being used. So total number of animals used for this experiment is 12. 

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